Arrangements in earth moving machines

ABSTRACT

An arrangement in excavators, bulldozers and like machines for determining the depth in the ground of an earthmoving instrumentality consists of a levelling instrument located in the vicinity of the driver&#39;&#39;s seat, a levelling staff on the earth moving instrumentality, and an optional number of panels to be set up in the terrain.

United States Patent" [72] Inventor Karl Uno Einar Andersson Oxelosund, Sweden [21] Appl. No. 816,007 221 Filed Apr. 14,1969 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [73] Assignee Eric Reinhold Gustalsson Malrno, Sweden [54] ARRANGEMENTS 1N EARTH MOVING MACHINES 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 33/46, 33/185.5, 37/143 [51] Int. Cl G0lc 5/00, GOlc 15/00 [50] FieldoiSear-ch 37/143; 172/4, 4.5: 33/46 R, 185.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,038 2/1891 Townsend 33/74 A Sullivan Akins Yocum Johnson Przyblyski.

Barns Sarlandt Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman Assistant Examiner-Paul G. Foldes Attorney-Kirnmel, Crowell & Weaver 33/74 A 33/73 A 37/SAL 33/461 33/185.5 33/l85.5 33/73 A Fl e I 1 L l QIQIOIDIOI.

This invention relates to an arrangement for determining the position of an earth moving instrumentality in the ground and for use in connection with earth moving machines, such as excavators, bulldozers, etc., with a driver's cab from which the earthmoving instrumentality is operable and thus vertically adjustable.

To be able to determine the depth in the ground to which the earth moving instrumentality, such as an excavator bucket or a bulldozer blade, shall be allowed to penetrate, either the driver has to leave the machine and determine the depth with the aid of a levelling staff or an assistant has to perform this work. In the latter case the driver is relieved of this frequently occurring work. The manner in which the levelling work has been effected hitherto delays the earthmoving operations and renders them much more expensive.

To eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages the arrangement suggested by the present invention is characterized by a levelling instrument disposed on the earthmoving machine in the range of the drivers cab, a levelling staff arranged on the earthmoving instrumentality, and an optional number of panels having graduated scales, which panels are to be placed in the terrain. With the aid of this arrangement the driver will constantly be fully aware of the working depth without any manual help, thus resulting in a more rapid and more precise work.

The invention will now be more fully described in the following, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bucket-type excavating machine equipped with the arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a bulldozer with a bulldozer blade, also equipped with the arrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a levelling stafi;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a panel to be placed in the terrain;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an instrument comprised in the arrangement and shown by way of example.

In the machines 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the driver's cab or seat is designated 2, and an earth moving instrumentality, such as an excavating bucket and a bulldozer blade, respectively, is designated 3 and 4, respectively. Said bucket 3 and said blade 4, respectively, is disposed on the free end of an arm assembly which is but diagrammatically shown and generally designated 5, said arm assembly being operatively connected (in a manner not shown) to a hydraulic power assembly (not shown) which is drivably connected to the.

machine engine 6. By means of said power assembly the bucket 3 and the blade 4, respectively, is operable and thus vertically adjustable from the driver's cab or seat 2 where the manual operating means of the power assembly are disposed.

In accordance with the invention, a levelling instrument 7 is mounted on the machine 1 preferably in the range of the drivers cab or seat 2. The instrument is placed at suitable eye level to permit the driver to take the requisite readings without unnecessary movements of his body. In accordance with the invention a levelling staff 8 is readily detachably mounted on the bucket 3 and blade 4, respectively. Besides, the arrangement according to the invention includes an optional number of panels 9 which are to be set up in the terrain. Each panel is provided with a graduated scale 10 which, as will appear from FIG. 4, preferably has its zero line in the center of the panel 9. The lines of the scale 10 are arranged on either side of the zero line, i.e. below and above it. The levelling staff 8 has a scale ll which corresponds to the graduated scale 10 of the panel 9 and thus also has its zero line in the central region of the levelling staff 8. Normally, the panels 9 are of a length of three meters and the lines above the zero line preferably are black while the lines below the zero line preferably are redQThe panels 9 are set up around the area to be excavated so that they have their zero lines at a certain definite level which is known to the driver. The zero line should be placed at a plus height which is an average of the different height positions of the instrument 7 during work in the area to be excavated. The zero line of the levelling staff 8 has a definite height over the lower edge of the bucket 3 and blade 4, respectively. For instance, if the zero lines of the panels 9 are set at +1000 m. and the bottom of the finished excavation is to lie at i+4.00 m. the zero line of the levelling staff 8 will lie 6 m. above the lower edge of the bucket 3 and blade 4, respectively. If at uneven points of the ground the driver reads a height of +1 [.25 m. the corresponding black numerals should be read on the levelling staff 8. From the horizontal sight line of the instrument 7 to the bottom of the excavation there is thus a distance of 7.25 m.

The instrument illustrated in FIG. 5 is an aiming telescope 12 of any prior art type suitable for use in the present connection. Together with a weight 14 connected to the telescope by means of an arm 13 the telescope I2 is secured to an inner ring 15 of a Cardanic suspension. The inner ring 15 is pivotally suspended in an outer ring 16 which is pivoted to the upper portion of a container 17 which is partly filled with oil up to a level 18 above the weight 14. The oil should have a viscosity providing a good damping of the weight 14 which is suspended in the manner of a pendulum. Mounted on the container 17 above the telescope 12 is a hood l9 protecting the telescope and preventing dirt from penetrating into the interior of the instrument. The instrument is mentioned only by way of example and other suitable devices can be substituted for it.

The levelling stafi 8 and the panels 9 or the graduated scales l0 and II can be provided with a light reflecting coating of such a nature that reading and levelling can be effected in the dark. Moreover, by providing two levelling staffs 8 for example on the bulldozer blade 4 the inclination of the blade can be controlled to pennit for instance banking.

Further modifications are conceivable within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus in an excavating system, the apparatus being adapted to permit levelling of an excavation, the system including an excavating machine having an operators station, and a cutting blade assembly, the apparatus comprising:

at least one vertical grade stake having a series of gradations thereon including a zero line, adjacent the terrain to be excavated;

a vertically extending level staff on the cutting blade assembly, said staff having a second series of gradations including a zero line;

a telescope in the operators station of the machine used to sight on a selected grade stake;

the zero line of each grade stake being set at a predetermined height which is a function of the height positions of the cutting blade assembly when working; and

selected gradations of the level staff and the grade stake being aligned through said telescope during excavation.

2. The invention of claim 4, wherein:

the telescope is of self-levelling variety.

3. The invention of claim 4, wherein:

a series of grade stakes are provided about the terrain to be excavated. 

1. Apparatus in an excavating system, the apparatus being adapted to permit levelling of an excavation, the system including an excavating machine having an operator''s station, and a cutting blade assembly, the apparatus comprising: at least one vertical grade stake having a series of gradations thereon including a zero line, adjacent the terrain to be excavated; a vertically extending level staff on the cutting blade assembly, said staff having a second series of gradations including a zero line; a telescope in the operator''s station of the machine used to sight on a selected grade stake; the zero line of each grade stake being set at a predetermined height which is a function of the height positions of the cutting blade assembly when working; and selected gradations of the level staff and the grade stake being aligned through said telescope during excavation.
 2. The invention of claim 4, wherein: the telescope is of self-levelling variety.
 3. The invention of claim 4, wherein: a series of grade stakes are provided about the terrain to be excavated. 